Is Zapdos viable in Gen 8 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #15 in Gen 8 OU with 16.70% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU is Heatran with a 84.2% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Heatran, Garchomp, Zapdos, Toxapex, Landorus-Therian.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU?

Heatran is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 84.2% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 16.7% #15

ABILITYStatic

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Volt Switch 89.0% Roost 88.0% Hurricane 85.1% Defog 42.4% Heat Wave 40.2% Toxic 15.3% Thunderbolt 13.7% Weather Ball 9.1%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 89.4% Choice Specs 8.3% Leftovers 1.2% Life Orb 0.8% Throat Spray 0.1% Wise Glasses 0.1% Rocky Helmet 0.0% Light Clay 0.0%

Abilities

Static96.2%Pressure3.8%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian48.9%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike37.8%

Browse Gen 8 OU teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Heatran 84% Teams using Garchomp 74% Teams using Zapdos 46% Teams using Toxapex 40% Teams using Landorus-Therian 28% Teams using Corviknight 8%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.03

84.2% dies 7.77%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 139-165 (36.1 - 42.9%) -- 91% chance to 2HKO after trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

49.842

73.7% dies 8.55%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Scale Shot (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 156-189 (40.6 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

21.887

45.6% dies 10.65%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 121-144 (31.5 - 37.5%) -- 86.8% chance to 3HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK

54.37

39.9% dies 9.12%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Toxapex Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 103-123 (26.8 - 32%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Toxapex counters → Teams with Toxapex →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

101.925

27.7% dies 7.52%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 298-352 (77.6 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK

81.638

8.0% dies 4.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Corviknight Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 93-111 (24.2 - 28.9%) -- 99.2% chance to 4HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Ranked #15 with 16.70% usage. Sorted by reliability score.